I've earned the No 1 ranking, says Serena Williams
Trust Serena Williams to speak her mind at all times.
The American, who became the World No 1 tennis player yesterday after she beat Russia's Ekaterina Makarova 6-2, 6-2 in the second round of the China Open had always been critical of Dinara Safina's top billing though she is still to win a Grand Slam.
Yesterday too, Serena, who won two slams this year, took a swipe at Safina.
The American, who said earlier this week that she wanted to "pay the price" for the top ranking, told reporters: "I think I've earned it."
"I've won two Grand Slams. I wish I'd have got more, but you know what, I'm just excited to have those two this year. It's great," she said.
"I got pretty deep in the other ones, but if you don't win, it doesn't count whether you get deep or not."
Asked if she felt vindicated to regain the top spot over Safina, who has never won a Grand Slam, Williams replied: "I definitely feel better. I would be lying if I sat here and said that I didn't."
Williams one of only 19 women to ever hold the number one ranking first reached the top spot in July 2002, staying there for more than a year until August 2003.
The 11-time Grand Slam winner again rose to the top in September last year for four weeks, and again earlier this year for 11 weeks from early February until mid-April.
Williams, the reigning Australian Open and Wimbledon champion, won the China Open in 2004. She also won Olympic doubles gold with sister Venus here last year.
And Serena is already thinking of the road ahead not just in the China Open but till the end of the year.
"I just want to keep it up, especially for Doha, which is my main goal," she added, referring to the WTA's season-ending championships featuring the top eight singles players and top four doubles teams, which starts on October 27.
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